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Meanwhile, the deaths of two MTA track workers within a span of just five days must spark a thorough examination of training and safety procedures underground.

On Sunday, two veteran transit workers were replacing concrete under the A and C lines at the Hoyt-Schermerhorn stop in Brooklyn when they were struck by a Queens-bound G train. Marvin Franklin, 55, was killed instantly; his colleague, Jeff Hill, 41, survived with critical injuries.

An investigation is under way, though early reports suggest a breakdown in security protocols – specifically, a failure to use warning lights – might be responsible.

MTA Executive Director Elliot Sander and NYC Transit President Howard Roberts learned of the tragedy while on their way to Brewster for the wake of track worker Daniel Boggs, who died last Tuesday.

Boggs, 42, was setting up flagging lanterns at Columbus Circle when he was struck by a downtown No. 3 train. Apparently, he believed trains had stopped running on the express track for the night.

As with any horrific accident, there’s a reflexive demand to find someone to blame. Yet sometimes an accident is just that – an accident. Unfortunately, when the workplace is Gotham’s dimly-lit subway system, accidents can exact a grievous price.

“Any death is unacceptable,” Roberts said. “To have two people killed in the system within less than a single week is intolerable.”

He said the MTA is doing all that can be asked at such a time: conducting investigations into both incidents, temporarily suspending all non-emergency maintenance and construction work, reviewing safety procedures and giving refresher courses in best-practices for track workers.

Safety is Job One in any environment. Transit workers find themselves in particularly dangerous circumstances all the time; the need for care is that much more acute.